Cell Organelles

Cell Membrane● Found: Bacteria (B), Plants (P), Animal

Cells (A)● Structure:

○ Made of fat and protein molecules○ Constantly moving and fluid-like

because it’s made of liquid fats● Function:

○ Acts as a filter and passageway for things moving in and out of the cell.

○ Goal: keep the bad stuff out, let the good stuff in

Cytoplasm● Found: B, P, A cells● Structure:

○ Jellylike fluid that is mainly made of water

● Function: ○ Suspends and supports the cell’s

organelles.○ Place where many of the cell’s

most important chemical activities occur.

Nucleus● Found: P, A cells● Structure:

○ Round and surrounded by a membrane that protects DNA and lets messages go in and out of the nucleus

● Function: ○ Manages cell functions; the DNA inside

the nucleus is the instruction manual for the cell’s activities

○ Without the nucleus the cell will be unable to create new cells and will eventually die.

Ribosomes● Found: B, P, A cells● Structure:

○ Consists of RNA and proteins○ The smallest organelles

● Function: ○ DNA (instructions) → RNA (messenger)

→ amino acids (building blocks) → proteins

○ These proteins are used in your cells’ membranes for building muscles, creating blood cells, enzymes, etc.

Chromatin● Found: B, P, A cells● Structure:

○ Consists of DNA bound to proteins○ When cell is ready to divide,

chromatin condenses into chromosomes

● Function: ○ Contains genetic information that it

passes from one generation to the next

Endoplasmic Reticulum● Found: P, A cells● Structure:

○ A series of interconnecting tubes around the nucleus

○ Rough ER (RER) has ribosomes○ Smooth ER (SER) has no ribosomes

● Function: ○ RER - helps the ribosomes finish

making the proteins○ SER - makes molecules of fat (lipid)

to be used in the cell’s membranes and throughout the body.

Golgi Apparatus● Found: P, A cells● Structure:

○ A series of flattened membranes with vesicles extending from all sides usually near cell membrane

● Function: ○ Takes proteins and fats made by

SER and RER and stores packages and sends them whenever needed.

○ The cell’s own UPS service

Lysosome● Found: P, A cells● Structure:

○ Contains several different enzymes similar to enzymes in digestive systems.

● Function: ○ Breaks down material from damaged

organelles, some food molecules and any toxic substance in the cell.

Mitochondria● Found: P, A cells● Structure:

○ Has a highly folded inner membrane that surrounds a fluid called the matrix

● Function: ○ The place where the energy stored in

glucose (sugar) molecules is finally released so it can be used to power all the cell’s functions.

Cytoskeleton● Found: B, P, A cells● Structure:

○ Comes in 3 different shapes and is made of protein

● Function: ○ Like a freeway system used to relay

messages throughout the cell○ Gives support to the cell and its

organelles and assists in cell division.

Vacuoles● Found: P, A cells● Structure:

○ Contains water, food, waste, and/or pigments.

● Function: ○ A storage bin for the cell.○ It stores water and/or pigments

Animal Cell

Plant Cell

Chloroplasts● Found: P cells ONLY● Structure:

○ Has internal membrane structure that looks like stacks of pancakes

● Function: ○ Place where photosynthesis occurs○ Energy from the sun is used to make

glucose (sugar) here

Cell Wall● Found: P cells● Structure:

○ Made of carbohydrates○ Has large holes throughout its

surface● Function:

○ Provide structure, shape and stability for the plant (it’s like a skeletal system for the plant)

○ Because of the holes in its surface it lets most things pass through it, even things harmful to the cell.